About the book

One of the things that’s so exciting about sociology is its constant engagement with the ever-changing social world. Events we find hard to make sense of, or that frighten us – such as climate change or terrorism – are all of interest to sociologists. The aim of this sixth edition, as in the previous five, has been to capture the sense of excitement that pervades the very best of sociology, and to inspire a new generation of sociologists.

The book was written in the firm belief that sociology has a key role to play in modern intellectual culture and a central place in the social sciences. It does not make a virtue of sociological jargon, but rather its language is straightforward and accessible for students, though it does not shy away from complex debates. This sixth edition remains state-of-the-art, with fresh and engaging new material added throughout. The book weaves together classical and contemporary theory and data, and provides a wide range of everyday examples to which students can easily relate. The new edition has been revised throughout, but in particular includes:

substantive new material on education, media, social theory, inequalities, politics and government, and a whole new chapter on war and terrorism;
further revisions and updating in all the chapters;
a strong focus on global sociology, and the sociological imagination;
new ‘Classic Studies’ boxes, which examine in detail influential empirical research;
additional ‘Thinking Critically’ sections woven through the text, to stimulate students’ own insights;
specially chosen, eye-catching photographs, which capture the everyday drama of the social world.